The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-01-07

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by summoning an extra session Of the Leg
islature
In this connection, it may be profitable for
the Legislature to inquire whether, In the
rapid changes in the relative position OF
towns, with respect TO property, 1t might not
conduce to justice and equality Of taxation
| il the valuation should be revised once In
five years instead Of once in ten as Is now
done. The Constitution OF the state re-
quires that "a general valuation shall be TAX
en- at least once in ten years"-implying that
that it might be wise TO take the valuation
oftener. In 1845 valuation was ordered by
the Legislature intermediate between the
valuations of 1910 ana 1850 / submit the
whole subject, in all its important bearings,
TO your careful inquiry and most mature con-
sideration.
| INSANE HOSPITAL.
The reports Of the workings Of our various
| public institutions for the past two years will
be laid before you. They all show gratify-
ing evidences of fulfilling the objects for
which they were established. The Hospital
| for the Insane shows eommendable progress
| in every provision for the comfort and cure
OF the inmates, and think 1t may be said
| that in all its appointments 1t Is the equal of
any institution Of the kind in the country. 1t
has been, in all respects, prudentlY and ef-
| hciently administered. | have only one sug-
| gestion to make in regard TO ii, and that Is
that the criminal insane,-l mean those who
| have Incurred the heavy penalties OF the law
| and have had their sentences committed ON
account of insanity,-should be kept apart
| from the general class of patients. Whether
this should be done by providing an entirely
separate ward, or a small building on the
| grounds, a little removed from the other
| buildings, it must be for the wisdom Of the
| Legislature to determine. / commend the
subject to your careful inquiry.
REFORM SCHOOL.
recently paid visit TO the Reform
School for Boys and have. witnessed with
much qualification the condition of that In
| stltution. Its discipline and management do
| honor to the Superintendent and all his
| teachers and assistants. / understand that
| the Trustees will ask for an appropriation
tor an experiment Of the cottage plan, where
the boys are treated precisely as though they
were in family, having smaller numbers
associated together, and thereby increasing
the direct influence Of those to whose charge
they are committed. refer the subject to
the Legislature, feeling sure that the most
careful consideration will be given to it, as
involving the welfare Of a class of our pOpu-
lation who may be turned from evil and made
useful and T spectacle citizens No subject
is more worthy OF patient investigation and
wise provision.
STATE PRISON.
1t was my pleasure, also, to pay a visit to
the State Prison, the detailed condition of
which will be found in the reports of the
warden and Inspectors. The work Of the
prisoners, principally engaged on carriage
carriages, think, are not sold at prices TO
Interfere with the rights or interests Of citi- |
zens OF the State who are engaged in the /
same line OF business. Ii Is, Of course, nee |
essary to keep the prisoner engaged in work, |
both with the view to property economy and |
the view to their Improvement and reforma- |
tion. 1t would be utterly cruel to keep them |
In ldleness, and 1t would be utterly useless |
TO work them except to some good end. III |
the number OF eonvicts was very large it |
would not be fair to engage them all upon |
one line OF business in competition with any |
special class Of workmanship in the State. / |
recommend II the present mode OF working |
the prisoners should prove unfairly hurtful /
TO honest scitlzens In their calling, there Il
should be such division Of the labor Of the /
prison as would make Interference in any
specific direction so small that no special in-
huence would be felt from 1t. / commend to /
your attention the report of the Prison Com
mlsslOners, and specially suggest that due |
consideration be paid to the facts they have
collected touching the number Of prisoners
In the Jails OF the several counties The cir
cumstances which lead to the overcrowding
OF our jails every winter with petty Offend- |
ers against the law should, in my Judgment,
be carefully investigated.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
Theiadustrial School for girls, establish
ed some years since at Hallowell, has proved
an excellent Institution. 1t has saved a
large number Of girls from the unfortunate
surroundings in which sate had placed them
and has secured for them respectable EN-
ployment: The report Of the sGnerintend-
ent is well worthy Of your examination and
hope the institution will receive the favor
and assistance Of the Legislature.
BATH ASYLUM FOR ORPHANS.
The Military and Naval Asylum for or
phans, located at Bath, Is a weil-managed in
stitution, and continues to deserves the con-
hdence and patronage Of the State. There
Is some effort made to enlarge the basis of /
admission to its privileges. 1t will be your
duty 70 carefully examine into the propriety /
Of such action.
INDIAN TRIBES.
Beside the treaty obligations we are un-
der to make certain grants TO the remnants
OF Indian tribes within our borders, we are
called upon to do it ON the ground of phil
anthropy and charity. There has Of late
years been moral and material improve
ment in the condition of these wards of the
State, and / recommend that this tendency
be aided and fostered by all that the Legisla-
ture may properly do to that end.
woMAN's REFoRMAroRY.
The last Legislature had under considera-
tion the subject Of establishing a separate
reformat0ry for the female criminal class
IL then received a large degree of approba-
ton from the members Of both Senate and
House. | respectfully suggest that the sub
Ject be again taken under consideration. l
am sure that such an institution will elevate
the character of our prison discipline, and
be the means OF rescuing many women from
a life OF degradation. A separate institu-
ton, under the care Of female officers, affords
the delicacy of treatment which Is due TO
women. even in their fallen state, and 1t is
a duty we owe to humanity TO provide an in
stitutlon which will give this advantage in
its discipline and treatment The expert
ment has been tried with great success in
other States, and l commend the subject to
the careful consideration Of the Legislature
IL Is one which appeals to manhood and phi
lanthropy with peculiar force and earnest
ness.
BOARD OF HEALTH.
The Board Of Health Is discharging an i'm
portant function in the State, aud think
the sphere of their duties might be enlarged
with great advantage. Every abuse that
may lead TO disease should be promptly re-
moved, every avenue that may lead To iiifec-
ti0n should be promptly closed. The Board
of Health should be empowered to see that
municipal organizations, common carriers
and licensed inn-keepers 40 their duty in
these respects, and that everything practical
BILE be done to render Maine as nature seems
TO have designed her, one Of the healthiest
States on the continent In this connection
beg to suggest that We owe a duty to the
large number of citizens of other States who
stay among us for the summer season, who
have erected residences upon our soil, and
who pay taxes into our treasury. Whatever
we can properly do to promote their wishes
and their comfort should be ungrudingly and
cheerfully done. Our climate has lured
them IN great numbers, and we shall be neg
ligent in our duty and unmindful Of our own |
interests, II by any carelessness or neglect
We fail to extend them welcome give them
the most complete protection Of our laws
and provide such acts Of liberal legislation
as may render their stay agreeable and
healthful.
FISH AND GAME LAWS.
The laws for the preservation and increase
Of fish and game In the State should be rig
idly enforced, and II necessary, additional
provisions should be enacted. Ieall your at
tentlon TO the report Of the Commissioners
on this subject. The laws already enacted
are valuable and benefcent in their opera
tion and effect Under their en-
f0rcement fish and game are both rap
idly increasing in the State. The opposition to
these laws and the determination to violate
them led to deplorable crime In the county
OF Washington in November last but / trust
such an occurrence will stimulate and not
discourage the enforcement of the law.
suggest that an inquiry be made, whether
the State should not make some provision for |
the families of the two men who lost their
lives in the line Of their duty while enforc-
ing the laws 0I the State. Ii is important |
to have proper public sentiment on this
question. Those who oppose these laws and
insist on fishing aud hunting in unlawful
ways and without regard 10 seasons are "a |